Super Sunday Links 17 July 2011

by Timothy De Block on Jul 17, 2011 5:00 AM CDT in Link Dumps

While the Astros were taking on the first place Pirates (someone pinch me) I was putting together these links for your pre-Sunday morning church going needs.

Fans of the Game

Tales From the Juice Box " What I Did During the Astros – Pirates Game (Live Blogging)
If you watched the game Saturday you know that Terri Schlather was named the fan of the game by Fox Sports Houston. In the interview she tipped off that she writes for an Astro sports blog for Aerys Sports named Tales from the Juice Box. There's some solid stuff there and I particularly like that she's blogging directly from the game so check it out.

Hall of Fame Field Trip « 'Cats Corner
Cats Corner goes to the Hall of Fame.

Down on the Farm

Prospect of the Day: J.D. Martinez, OF, Houston Astros - Minor League Ball
John Sickels gives some love to J.D. Martinez and like you thinks it's time he's promoted.

Farmstros: JetHawks First in Line for Harry Potter
Kirk Clark fills in Farmstros on the trip to the movie theater for some of the JetHawk player's. I normally wouldn't of linked this, but last weekend and through the break I kind of got into the first five Harry Potter movies. And if you really want to feel old and wonder why these ball players are checking out a Harry Potter movie, these books probably came out when they were in the lower levels of school.

The Start of Something Wonderful

Downs to miss Nats series for birth of child | astros.com: News
Astros infielder Matt Downs has been given permission to miss this week's three-game series against the Nationals to be with his wife, Leah, in Alabama for the birth of their first child. A preemptive congratulations is in order for Mr. Downs.

Astros, Springer exchange offers " Tag's Lines
Tags with an update on the Astros attempts to sign George Springer. I wouldn't get to excited it's most likely going to be over slot money which Bud Selig won't approve until August. Look for him to make his debut next year.

In the Courtroom?

Astros County: The Only Astros Blog That Matters: Idiots In The Courtroom: Day Two of the Roger Clemens Trial
John Royal gives his closing statements on the trial that wasn't.

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Comments

I’m not trying to downplay George here but he really deserves overslot money? They set a slot price for a reason and if we never follow it, prices are just going to keep getting higher and higher. Like I said I’m not trying to downplay George but he doesn’t exactly wow me enough to give him big money. Maybe I’m thinking he’s trying to get bigger than what he actually is though, I don’t know.

by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 17, 2011 2:42 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Springer is a top five talent in any other draft. Heck, he has a chance to be the best position player in the draft, better than rendon, not likely but very well could be. Yes he’s that good.

Overslot at this part of the draft is very common especially with hard slotting becoming a very real possibility starting next year, everyone is negotiating to get as much as they can.

by Subber10 on Jul 17, 2011 4:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I think a hard slot would be best for baseball. Only problem is they would have to limit IFA bonus’s as well because it wouldn’t be fair for the local guys if the foreign guys get paid more because they’re not part of the regular draft.

I think a hard slot would deter a lot of high school prospects though. Would make college baseball much more interesting for a change though.

by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 17, 2011 4:54 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

hard slot

would force a lot of two-sport players to college, and eventually to other sports. Baseball’s big advantage in getting talent from other sports is that kids can play right out of high school; eliminating that would not be good for the sport, in my opinion.

by whitakk on Jul 17, 2011 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

It would create a new dynamic. Early round HS guys won’t be affected too much, its all of the overslot deals that happen later on that will be affected. But, at the same time it can level the playing field a whole lot.

I wonder if some sort of hard slotting for the first round and maybe a few more rounds and then just put a cap on the remaining rounds at around 1 million so that some HS kids could still sign out of HS. Although, large market teams could still take advantage and offer several the max amount.

by Subber10 on Jul 17, 2011 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I just dont like

The idea of record setting bonus’s every year. It seems like it just keeps going higher and higher and lower market teams are going to start shying away from the BPA and get the cheaper option instead. That’s not right.

by Its Gonna Happen on Jul 17, 2011 10:48 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

It isn't right

There should be a way to at least impose some kind of cap which would be the same for the entire first round. I would hate some of the best talent out of high school skipping to college to improve draft positions and wasting all of that developmental time. If the highest amount of money you can get is the same for the entire first round, then surely there should be a better inclination to sign right out of high school. I don’t know, but teams like the Yankees shouldn’t be able to manipulate the system by writing fat checks all of the time while other teams can’t.

If the Astros could show any sign of being ahead, rather than being behind the competition, maybe, just maybe the Astros will be good in the future.... Maybe

by BustaPozee on Jul 18, 2011 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

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Fri 05/25	WP: Lucas Harrell (4 - 3) SV: Brett Myers LP: Clayton Kershaw (4 - 2)	3 - 1 win
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Houston Astros The Crawfish Boxes @ Los Angeles Dodgers True Blue LA Sunday, May 27, 2012, 3:10 PM CDT Dodger Stadium J.A. Happ vs Chris Capuano Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to right field at 10-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 75. Complete Coverage >

NL Central Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Cincinnati Red Reporter	26	20	.565	0	Won 1
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	25	22	.531	1.5	Lost 3
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	22	24	.478	4	Lost 1
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	22	24	.478	4	Won 2
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	19	27	.413	7	Lost 1
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	15	31	.326	11	Lost 11